EN Summary: I bought a coverstitch machine (my new baby!) and in this article you'll find out what a coverstitch machine does, its main characteristics and equivalents in the market, the included accessories and the optional accessories that I find more relevant, along with a compilation of links with the most relevant information that I found online. Keep reading for the full article!

EN: I bought the Alfa 8706 (exactly the same machine as the Janome CoverPro 1000cpx and Elna 444, it's the same manufacturer), from a Spanish dealer with a very good discounted price (here). Note: Janome has replaced this model with the CoverPro 2000cpx with added Auto Tension Control. The Alfa8706/Janome1000cpx/Elna444 key features are:

- STS (Seam Tightening System)

- Foot pressure adjustment with guide lines

- Stitch width with two needles: 3mm and 6mm

- Stitch width with three needles: 6mm

- Extra-large bed space

- Free Arm

- One needle, 2-thread chain stitch

- Two needle, 3-thread cover stitch

- Three needle 4-thread cover stitch

- Stitch length 1 - 4mm

- Vertical needle drop

- Differential feed (ratio: 0.5 to 2.25)

- Tension release device

- Speeds up to 1,000spm

The machine comes with a box containing four thread spool caps, four nets, two screws for fixating optional accessories, a pack of Schemtz serger needles, a needle threader tool, tweezers, two screw drivers and a small brush:

EN: To those who have no idea what a coverstitch machine is, this is a machine which provides the same stretch finishing stitches as you see on hems of purchased T-shirts, knits and Denim jeans; the stitches are stretchy which makes them ideal for hemming knits and finishing armholes and necklines. This machine doesn't cut the fabric. as the serger does. Below you can see the diagram on the machine showing the stitch options:

EN: Below there's my trial of the triple cover stitch and the chain stitch. A very good tip for balancing thread tension on these machines (on sergers as well) is using different color threads to be able to distinguish which of the threads need tension adjustment:

EN: One other characteristic is how easy the threading of this machine is, when compared to my 5-thread serger (which also does coverstitching by the way; I decided to buy a dedicated coverstitch because changing the serger's setup from overlock to coverstitch and back to overlock was very cumbersome and most of the times I ended up using a twin needle instead, with all the disadvantages that come with it). In the next photo you can see the single looper inside; there's a knob that disengages it to the right and makes the threading so much easier!

EN: What about optional accessories? According to my research, there aren't accessories that are "absolutely necessary" with this machine but there are a couple of items that will have immediate use on the my most common applications; the first is the Centre Guide foot that comes with the optional guide (when the guide is removed the foot turns into a clear foot so there's no need to buy it). For example it will allow the finishing of bindings with the coverstich so each row of stitching stay on each side of a seam, as found on ribbed and bound necklines. The clear foot also makes it easier to see exactly where you're stitching, useful when there's the need of overlaping stitches as in cuffs and circular hems.

EN: There are also tape binder accessories but these are very expensive. If at any point of my sewing journey I find that I can't absolutely live without them, I will consider investing in one. There are other cheaper versions of white brand binders but I think I'd still need the fixating plate to use them (meaning I'd have to buy at least one Janome binder that comes with the plate).

EN: Regarding the instruction manual that comes with the machine, it contains only the basic info, not going into much depth in matters that I find very relevant. I did my homework researching online all I could find about these machines, their specific uses and operation and I compiled a list of resources for future reference; you can find the list in the end of this article. Thank you all for reading!

A wonderful new machine and of all people I know you will use this machine to its full potential. I have the Janome and do love it . It makes a beautiful stitch and is easy to operate However I find that it does not like going over a seam, it skips stitches.

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